Survey finds Texas' Gulf of Mexico shoreline has most trash

Over the last two years, scientists at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve have been documenting debris along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.

The research, published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, revealed the majority of trash washing ashore is plastic -- between 69 and 95 percent. Researchers also determined more debris is deposited along the Gulf coastline during spring and summer, perhaps because more people are on the beach and the water -- and littering.

Shell’s recent success in the US Gulf of Mexico includes its deepwater Dover discovery on Mississippi Canyon 612, reported last year, near its Appomattox platform. The well was drilled by the Deepwater Poseidon ultra-deepwater drillship. Sources: Shell, Transocean.

In lieu of the traditional shovel groundbreaking, Miami City Commission chair Ken Russell, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Miami city manager Emilio T. Gonzalez (pictured l-r) perform the ceremonial water toss to mark the start of the first Miami Forever Bond project tackling flooding and sea-level rise. (Photo by City of Miami Office of Communications)